Richard g



(NoModeL) R. G. KENNEDY.

WIRE FENCE. No. 567,478

Patented Sept. 8, 1896.

.UNITED STATES PATE T OFFICE.

RICHARD G. KENNEDY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF FOUR-FIFTHS TO CARL STEWART, B. D. REED, A. W. PENCE, AND

C. J. GIBSON, OF SAME PLACE.

WIRE FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 567,478, dated September 8, 1896. Application filed March 3, 1896. Serial No. 581,631. (No model.)

To whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD G. KENNEDY, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire Fences; and I do hereby declare that the fol lowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in wire fences.

It has for its object the construction of a neat, light, and durable fence of a minimum number of parts.

' A further object is to so crimp or curve the lateral or strand wires that tension-springs will be formed therein to overcome expansion or contraction by heat or cold.

A further object of my invention is to form a strong and rigid support for the lateral wires 2 5 by the use of double upright wires or pickets.

A further object is to provide a gage for the purpose of holding the lateral wires a proper distance apart and also to guide the person constructing the fence where to crimp said lateral wires for the reception of the upright wires or pickets.

A further object is to provide locking means so constructed and arranged as to --hold the double upright wires or pickets and the lat- 3 5 eral wires rigidly together.

Formerly in the construction of wire fences of this description only a single upright wire has been used, thereby not allowing for expansion and contraction. g

The crimps necessary in the construction .of my invention are formed by a suitable tool, which forms the subject-matter of another application filed even date herewith, bearing Serial No. 581,630. a 5 lVith these objects in view my invention will be further described, and more particularly hereinafter pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved fence. Fig. 50. 2 is a rear view thereof, showing the lockingplates in different adjustment. Figs. 3 and 4. are detail views of a portion of a crimped lateral wire and a locking-plate, respectively.

Referring by letter to the accompanying drawings, a are the usual strands of lateral 5 5 wires, and b the tension curves or crimps therein.

0 are the double upright wires or pickets, rigidly held and supporting the lateral wires a by means of the locking-plates (1, said locking-plates being so constructed as to receive both strands of the double upright wires or pickets 0 through the holes 6. A triangular slot f is provided in said locking plate for the passage of the lateral wires a and upright wires 0.

g is a gage having means for holding perpendicular, and guides h, holding the lateral wires a at proper distances apart. A rod t' is passed through the guides h, holding said gage g against slipping.

In the construction of my improved fence the lateral wires to are fastened by any suitable means to the initial fence-post and passed on to the next post. There the wires to are 7 5 temporarily held. The gage g is then placed on the lateral wires a, and each of the said lateral wires is crimped from the top down. Then the locking-plates d are put in position, the triangular slots f thereof resting on the crimps which form the tension-curves of the lateral wires (0. The double upright wires or pickets c are then passed down through the holes 6 and the lower point of the triangular slot f of said locking-plate d. When this part of the process is in operation, the lockingplates being bent to allow the upright wires or pickets c to pass through the holes 6 and the angular slots f and by the lateral wires (1, then the tool (not shown) is applied and the locking-plates d are straightened to lock both the lateral wires a and the double upright wires or pickets c and hold them rigidly and securely together, thereby forming a most durable, simple, and effective fastening, having the tensioircurves 1), allowing expansion and contraction in heat or cold, thereby always keeping the lateral wires to taut. Each wire, with the aid of the double picket, re-

sists or bears the strain or weight of all parts equally, and the manifold support obtained by the width and rigidity of the picket,bound and impinged upon as it is through the lockplate and nested and locked in the double crimp of the lateral wire, forms a lock-joint of great resistance from all points. The ten sion-spring formed between the double crimp in the lateral wire and retained by the lockplate and picket allows for contraction and expansion from cold or l1eat,as before stated, thereby keeping the fence rigid in all its parts Without aid of tightening-springs or adjusting devices. The gage g is then moved to the proper distance for another picket, and the operation is repeated. The triangular slots f are so arranged below the openings or holes 6 that the flat upperwall of said triangular slots rests on and is held in position by the crimps in the lateral wires a, and it is obvious that each of said series of slots f and openings 6 forms a complete lock, and therefore can be used separately.

It is evident that many slight changes might be made in the form and construction of the parts described.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A wire fence comprising a series of crimped lateral wires, double upright wires or pickets, and double plate for locking the whole substantially as described.

2. A wire fence comprising a series of crimped lateral wires, double upright wires or pickets, a double plate for locking said lateral wires and pickets together and openings in said plate substantially as described.

of said upright wires substantially as described.

5. A locking device for wire fences comprising a plate dished to receive the lateral wires, the openings in the upper portion of said plate to receive the upright Wires and the triangular slot in its lower portion adapted to rest on the crimps in the lateral wires, as set forth.

6. A fence comprising a picket consisting of a single piece of wire bent to'form two upright wires, a locking-plate comprising a single piece of metal provided with the upper, and triangular openings and a lateral wire being passed between said plate in front of said upright wires and supporting said plate by means of the crimps therein substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD G. KENNEDY.

WVitnesses:

CARL STEWART, B. D. REED. 

